Patna: Patna is ready to take an important step to reduce traffic jams in the city. The district administration has announced that the process of giving permits to auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws will begin from September 23. This decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Dr Chandrashekhar Singh on Friday. Senior officials including the District Magistrate, SSP, SP (Traffic) and District Transport Officer were also present.
According to officials, this time permits will be given zone-wise to make transport in the city more organized. Auto owners can apply for one zone and up to three routes within that zone. E-rickshaw drivers will also be able to choose the routes where they want to run their vehicles. There are about 75,000 registered auto-rickshaws in Patna, but no new permits have been issued since 2014.
The Commissioner said that the move will not only make the transport system smoother and safer but will also help in controlling pollution. The number of vehicles, routes and zones have been decided based on the capacity of the roads to ensure that the city remains free from traffic jams.
For better management, Patna has been divided into three colour-coded zones – yellow, green and blue. A special reserve zone, marked as white, has also been created. Vehicles in this reserve zone will take passengers directly to their destination without stopping anywhere on the way, giving them a faster and more convenient travel option.
